Strauss ducks out after injured Harmison misses final Ashes warm-up

Andrew Strauss' early dismissal soured some of England's hard work in restricting South Australia to 247 for seven declared on day one of their final Ashes warm-up match at Adelaide Oval.

Fast bowler Shaun Tait's first ball went for four wides but his third thudded into Strauss' pads - a dream result for Tait as he strives to win a spot in the Australia side for next week's first Test in Brisbane.

Alastair Cook (six not out) and nightwatchman Matthew Hoggard (10 no) survived the next five overs until stumps, with England 24 for one.

South Australia captain Darren Lehmann's declaration, after one delivery had been bowled with the second new ball, backed his stated intention to try to force a result, and it also means England can expect to have the second innings they need to help prepare for the first Test.

Lehmann and Cameron Borgas shared a defiant fifth-wicket partnership of 157 to help revive the hosts from an embarrassing 25 for four.

That was largely thanks to a blistering spell by Hoggard, who at one stage had figures of three for nought from 12 balls.

Former Yorkshire batsman Lehmann controlled much of SA's first innings with an effortless 143-ball 99 and Borgas supported his captain diligently on his way to 73 off 169 balls after England had grabbed four wickets in 19 balls in the first 13 overs.

South Australia were 182 for five when Lehmann was run out in the second over after tea and 226 for seven when Borgas holed out to deep mid-wicket off Panesar 10 overs later.

Hoggard ended up with three for 40 off his 13 overs in an England attack that was tidy enough, while the probing Panesar also commanded respect in conceding only 54 runs off 22 overs.

Panesar repaid the faith shown in him when he was selected for the match ahead of Ashley Giles in what may be a sign of what to expect for the first Test, while Sajid Mahmood was included instead of Steve Harmison, who was said to have felt tightness in his side when he woke in the morning.

James Anderson and Hoggard dismissed openers Matthew Elliott (11) and Daniel Harris (10) with successive balls in the 10th and 11th overs, and Hoggard removed Mark Cosgrove (one) and Callum Ferguson (nought) with successive balls in the 13th over.

Elliott nicked a pull to wicketkeeper Geraint Jones, Harris edged a defensive push to Collingwood at third slip, Cosgrove fended at a short ball and was caught on the leg-side by Jones, and Ferguson was lbw.

Strauss then dropped a low catch at first slip off Mahmood when Borgas was on eight at 52 for four and Paul Collingwood just failed to get to a very sharp bat-pad half-chance at slip off

Panesar when Lehmann was 77 at 147 for four.

The 36-year-old Lehmann responded to the early wickets with 10 boundaries, including two superb square drives off successive balls from Andrew Flintoff, who still had to be satisfied with his lively 12 overs for 34 and the wicket of Shane Deitz (24), who feathered a drive to Jones.

Harmison scare

England were given a huge pre-Ashes scare this morning when Steve Harmison withdrew from the final warm-up match with injury.

The Durham paceman complained of stiffness in his side and was ruled out of the three-day game after failing a late fitness test.

The move was described as precautionary, but it is a major worry before the opening Test of the series, which starts in Brisbane next Thursday.

Harmison, such a key member of the attack on bouncy pitches in Australia, was replaced by Sajid Mahmood, who was soon bowling after England lost the toss at the Adelaide Oval.

Monty Panesar was given a massive boost when he was picked as the sole spinner ahead of Ashley Giles, putting him in pole position to play in the Tests.

Mahmood was expected to bat at No 8 here. There had appeared a strong chance that Giles might be pressed into service with the prime aim of trying to stiffen a tail, with the extent of Geraint Jones' runmaking ability at No 7 already open to question.

But the tourists have instead gone with the bowler who has emerged as the country's premier spinner in Giles' 12-month absence. Giles has not played a Test a since the second match against Pakistan in late November at Faisalabad and has undergone three operations on a hip injury since.

He has returned with a shortened run-up, although the feeling was he might have been pressed into service at the Gabba, which is the least spin-friendly ground of the five Ashes venues.

Faith has instead been placed in Panesar, who took 17 wickets in the four summer Tests against Pakistan, often removing their top batsmen.

England, who lost the toss and were sent into the field by South Australia captain Darren Lehmann, had stated that this match was to be a dress rehearsal for the first Test, with a full-strength team chosen.

Harmison's injury put a stop to that, forcing them to go with Mahmood, who had been overlooked in favour of James Anderson for the New South Wales practice game.